DS is finishing his junior year of high school and plans on applying ED to VMI. Last fall he attended the spend the night program, and that's what cemented his desire to go there. However, we didn't make any appointments with anyone from admissions or ROTC because we didn't know that might be a good thing to do. He is also in the process of applying for the AROTC scholarship. Since that visit, we have done a lot of research online and in this forum and have had many of our questions answered. He also talked with a person from admissions who visited our county. My question is, would it be advisable for him to establish some kind of relationship with someone in admissions and/or the ROO? And if so, how does he go about doing that? Thanks for any advice.
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VMI - What to do now?
- Thread starter Goarmymom
- Start date
DS is finishing his junior year of high school and plans on applying ED to VMI. Last fall he attended the spend the night program, and that's what cemented his desire to go there. However, we didn't make any appointments with anyone from admissions or ROTC because we didn't know that might be a good thing to do. He is also in the process of applying for the AROTC scholarship. Since that visit, we have done a lot of research online and in this forum and have had many of our questions answered. He also talked with a person from admissions who visited our county. My question is, would it be advisable for him to establish some kind of relationship with someone in admissions and/or the ROO? And if so, how does he go about doing that? Thanks for any advice.
Goarmymom, my DS starts this fall and is attending on an AROTC scholarship. We are also from Northern Virginia. I'll tell you what we did, which by no means is the right way, but take it as free advice. First, my DS also did a weekend visit as a junior. I'd have your son visit again as a HS senior and have him come during the Ratline. My DS did this, and I believe this can only help with the Admissions department. When your DS applies for the AROTC scholarship, he will have to go to a PMS interview. We were given a list of George Mason or James Madison since they are the two closest schools with AROTC, but we called VMI and arranged to interview there. I think that made all the difference in his selection. His interview with Maj Crieder went very well and it was worth the extra effort to travel to Lexington. Finally, if you know a VMI graduate, I'd get them to write a letter of recommendation for admission. I firmly believe all these actions contributed to his admission and scholarship selection.
Goarmymom, my DS starts this fall and is attending on an AROTC scholarship. We are also from Northern Virginia. I'll tell you what we did, which by no means is the right way, but take it as free advice. First, my DS also did a weekend visit as a junior. I'd have your son visit again as a HS senior and have him come during the Ratline. My DS did this, and I believe this can only help with the Admissions department. When your DS applies for the AROTC scholarship, he will have to go to a PMS interview. We were given a list of George Mason or James Madison since they are the two closest schools with AROTC, but we called VMI and arranged to interview there. I think that made all the difference in his selection. His interview with Maj Crieder went very well and it was worth the extra effort to travel to Lexington. Finally, if you know a VMI graduate, I'd get them to write a letter of recommendation for admission. I firmly believe all these actions contributed to his admission and scholarship selection.
Bird85, did you establish any kind of relationship with PMS beforehand other than the interview? My DS did go during Ratline. Do you think it would be helpful for him to go again? Actually, I'm guessing he can do his interview then. Did your DS apply ED?
Bird85, did you establish any kind of relationship with PMS beforehand other than the interview? My DS did go during Ratline. Do you think it would be helpful for him to go again? Actually, I'm guessing he can do his interview then. Did your DS apply ED?
He did not establish a relationship beforehand, but was in contact with the ROTC staff a few times prior to the board. They are very nice and helpful. IMPO, if your DS wants to visit again, it won't hurt to see everything one more time just to be certain that VMI is the place for him. DS did apply ED, but there was some confusion with that. When mid-December rolled around and we didn't hear anything, we called Admissions and found out he was indicated as RD in their records. We were miffed to a degree, but what can you do? So, he decided to apply to 2 SA's, which was kind of a scramble. He went to AIM at USCGA last year and it was became option "1A", with VMI number one. Once he got the news of the AROTC scholarship, he started leaning toward VMI. Then in December he found out he was awarded an NROTC scholarship to VMI as well. Once this happened, USCGA fell to second place. Good thing as he was not admitted there. We then had to sweat it out with Admissions as he wasn't given an appointment to VMI until the beginning of April. This board has been a big help to my DS and our family. I recommend you have his AROTC app ready to go for the first board. The more looks the better. Go back and read some of the older posts regarding GPA/SAT/EC, etc. to see if he is ballpark. Apply ED if this is where he truly wants to go. Realize scholarships are harder to get every year, so brace for disappointment. Finally, have a plan B, C, and D ready to go. Good Luck!
He did not establish a relationship beforehand, but was in contact with the ROTC staff a few times prior to the board. They are very nice and helpful. IMPO, if your DS wants to visit again, it won't hurt to see everything one more time just to be certain that VMI is the place for him. DS did apply ED, but there was some confusion with that. When mid-December rolled around and we didn't hear anything, we called Admissions and found out he was indicated as RD in their records. We were miffed to a degree, but what can you do? So, he decided to apply to 2 SA's, which was kind of a scramble. He went to AIM at USCGA last year and it was became option "1A", with VMI number one. Once he got the news of the AROTC scholarship, he started leaning toward VMI. Then in December he found out he was awarded an NROTC scholarship to VMI as well. Once this happened, USCGA fell to second place. Good thing as he was not admitted there. We then had to sweat it out with Admissions as he wasn't given an appointment to VMI until the beginning of April. This board has been a big help to my DS and our family. I recommend you have his AROTC app ready to go for the first board. The more looks the better. Go back and read some of the older posts regarding GPA/SAT/EC, etc. to see if he is ballpark. Apply ED if this is where he truly wants to go. Realize scholarships are harder to get every year, so brace for disappointment. Finally, have a plan B, C, and D ready to go. Good Luck!
I'm sorry for all the scrambling you had to do! I know that had to be so stressful. DS is definitely working on the AROTC scholarship. He knows he wants to commission in the army for sure, so hopefully that will help some with getting into VMI. He definitely falls in the ballpark, probably right in the middle. I wonder why they didn't let you know your DS was rolled over to RD? I guess we'll have to keep on top of that. We do have some back-up plans and plan to visit North Ga. College and the Citadel this summer. He is also doing the Future Leader Camp at Norwich so he will get somewhat of a feel for that campus. Texas A&M is too far and too big, and he doesn't want to go to Va Tech. So those are our options! I hope one of them will work, especially VMI. Thanks for all your advice!